School of Education Research Staff Profile

Matt O'Leary

Developmental work and research activity

Matt is currently in the final year of a PhD in Education at the University of Warwick, where he studies on a part-time basis. His doctoral research is investigating the use of observation of teaching and learning (OTL) in Further Education (FE) colleges in the West Midlands and its impact on the professional lives of those working in the sector.

Key publications and materials developed

• 2009, 'Preparing for your Teaching Practice - Taking Feedback for CertTESOL' - Study Skills Module for Trinity College London CertTESOL.
• Book review: O’Leary, M (2008) The death of progressive education: how teachers lost control of the classroom by Roy Lowe, 2007, London, Routledge, 170 pp. ISBN 0-415-35972-6 Published in: British Educational Research Journal, Volume 34, Issue 4 August 2008 , pages 567 - 575
• Baig R, Dye VL, Herrington M, Hughes J, Kendall A, Lacey C, O’Leary. M, Smith R, (2008) ‘Space, Resistance and Identities: University-based Teacher Educators Developing a Community of Practice’, Chapter in Kimble C and Hildreth P. (eds) Communities of Practice: Creating Learning Environments for Educators, Information Age Publishing, Feb 2008.
• O’Leary, M (2006), Can inspectors really improve the quality of teaching in the PCE sector? Classroom observations under the microscope, Journal of Research in Post Compulsory Education, Vol. 11, No. 2, July 2006, pp. 191-198.
• O’Leary, M (2006), Classroom Observation – A means of improving professional practice in the PCE sector or a managerialist mechanism of controlling teachers? Paper presented to BERA Annual Conference 6th September 2006, University of Warwick.
• O’Leary, M (2006),Classroom observation: a means of improving professional pratice in the PCE sector or simply another stick to beat teacher with? Paper Presented at the University of Wolverhampton at the Annual research Conference, 10^th May 2006.
• O’Leary, M. (2004) ‘Inspecting the observation process: classroom observations under the spotlight’. IATEFL Teacher Development SIG Newsletter, Vol 3. 1/4: pp. 14–19.  

Recent conference papers

• University of Vienna, ECER Annual Conference, September 2009 – ‘Playing the game of panoptic performativity? Perspectives on the grading of observations of teaching and learning in Further Education colleges in England.’
• University of Wolverhampton, CPD Conference, June 2009 & School of Education Annual Research Conference, May 2009 – ‘Playing the game of panoptic performativity? Who are the winners and losers of lesson grading in classroom observations in Further Education (FE) colleges?’
• September 2006 – BERA Annual Conference, University of Warwick: “Classroom Observation – A means of improving professional practice in the PCE sector or a managerialist mechanism of controlling teachers?”
• July 2006 – NATECLA annual conference, University of Chester: “Using songs in the language classroom to develop your learners’ language skills.”
• July 2006 – NATECLA annual conference, University of Chester: “How can I improve my learners listening skills?”
• July 2006 – NATECLA annual conference, University of Chester: “How can observing others increase my understanding of teaching and learning and help me develop as a teacher?”
• May 2006 – University of Wolverhampton, School of Education annual research Conference: “Classroom observation: a means of improving professional practice in the PCE sector or simply another stick to beat teacher with?”
• July 2005 – NATECLA annual conference, Wolverhampton University, Telford Campus: “Using songs in the language Classroom: Making your classroom more appealing to learners.”
• July 2005 – NATECLA annual conference, Wolverhampton University, Telford Campus: “How to go about organising an Individual Learner Profile – A framework for Assessing their Linguistic, Competence and analysing their needs.”

Current development and research projects

• 2007-09: Quality Improvement Agency (QIA) Programme Development Grant (Creative Routes) for £9000 to work with Skills for Life teachers of adult literacy and ESOL on the integrated Certificate in Education programme (DTTLS), exploring the use of video observation.